Christie Suffers 'Major Blow' After Gov. Knocked Off Main Debate Stage: Analysts

Gov. Chris Christie has been knocked from the main stage for next week’s Republican presidential primary debate, and some political observers say the move should spell the end of his long-shot campaign.

The Fox Business Network has announced Thursday that low-polling for Christie, despite some recent gains after his performance in the most recent GOP debate, has moved the governor to the second-tier of candidates of the next debate.

The Fox Business Network-sponsored debate takes place Tuesday in Milwaukee.

The network announced Thursday night that Christie, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum failed to post an average of 2.5 percent in recent national polls.

Christie greeted the news almost with a shrug, and then pointed to a video of himself talking about substance abuse that has gone viral.

The announcement comes after Christie was on the main stage in the first three debates. Political observers say the move to the second-tier event is likely a fatal blow to Christie’s White House hopes, and potential donors are already beginning to show more resistance.

Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Poll, told nj.com that “it certainly makes his job a lot harder.”

Murray also noted on Twitter that he may have had something to do with the governor’s misfortune, saying: “.@ChrisChristie has been doing well in recent @MonmouthPolls. Too bad I didn’t do a national one this week, eh Guv?”

Murray told nj.com that ”it’s not good” that establishment support is probably going to go to one of the three left on the main stage.

In the same report, Brigid Harrison, a political science and law professor at Montclair State University, added: “This is enormously damaging to Christie ‘s campaign and his prospects.”

“To be struggling to gain momentum is a much different scenario than not being considered a potential contender,” she told nj.com, adding that the move “from the grown ups table to the kids’ table is an irrevocable move.”

Fox Business also reported that Christie’s support from Home Depot co-founder and possible donor Ken Langone, a longtime ally who stuck with him throughout the Bridgegate, GWB Bridge lane-closing scandal, is falling off and he’s stopped trying to foster support for Christie.

Christie showed up at just 2 percent in a Fox News poll released Wednesday night. Combined with his performance in the previous three polls from Quinnipiac, NBC and CBS, Christie had a 2.25 percent average. A 2.5 was required to stand on the main stage, according to GannettNJ.

The candidates achieving a 2.5 are Trump (25.3%), Carson (24.5%), Marco Rubio (11.8%), Ted Cruz (10.0%), Jeb Bush (5.5%), Carly Fiorina (3.0%), John Kasich (2.8%) and Rand Paul (2.5%), according to the report.